Microsoft Türkiye General Director Caglayan Arkan praised the country's software engineering talent in an April 2006 interview, arguing that Türkiye is well positioned to capture a share of Europe's growing demand for software professionals.
Arkan pointed to the high standard of software education in Türkiye as a key advantage, saying the country could become a significant supplier to the European Union market, where qualified engineers are in short supply. He also argued that technology, properly applied, could help address Türkiye's broader economic and social challenges.
On the domestic front, Arkan cited technocities as an important incentive for the industry, noting their tax advantages for software firms. He put the current number of computers in use in Türkiye at around 5 million, with Microsoft targeting 25 million users in the near term.
Arkan underscored Microsoft's commitment to the market, noting that CEO Bill Gates had visited Türkiye three times and that the company had placed Türkiye in the same strategic category as China. The goal, he said, is not only to expand within Türkiye but to help make it a net exporter of software.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in April 2006, in its own words.